Online Privacy Protection Act Applies to Mobile App for First Time

By Tim Miller
August 17, 2011

• The Federal Trade Commission ruled Monday that W3 Innovations, the company behind popular mobile applications for kids, including “Emily’s Girl World” and “Emily’s Dress Up,” should pay a $50,000 penalty for collecting personal information from kids without parental permission.
• The commission found the company in violation of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, marking the first time that law has been applied to a mobile application.
• “The F.T.C.’s COPPA Rule requires parental notice and consent before collecting children’s personal information online, whether through a Web site or a mobile app,” explained Jon Leibowitz, chairman of the commission. “Companies must give parents the opportunity to make smart choices when it comes to their children’s sharing of information on smart phones.”
• The decision coincides with a period of increased concern about privacy and mobile technology, as the industry considers new privacy protections to fend off potential federal regulation.

Proposal: Develop a New Internet to Address Cybersecurity

By Dennis Kuba
July 11, 2011

• The U.S. may want to create a new, more secure Internet infrastructure that would support critical services like banking, suggests former CIA director Michael Hayden.
• The public Web would not be able to access this network making it more secure from the threat of cyberattacks.
• Visitors on the secure network would need certified credentials. There would be no privacy. And network operators could scan traffic content.
• The Obama administration and Congressional lawmakers are working on cybersecurity legislation that would increase oversight of commercial and government networks.